My XKR is due a service in the next couple of months and was wondering what independent specialists (or other reputable garages) anyone has knowledge of in the D/C/S area that could sort me out. Not prepared to pay £145 per hour labour (ie Exeter) for one of the Jag dealerships but would be prepared to pay reasonable prices if I knew I was going to get value for money.

Its my first Jag so knowledge of who gives VFM and who maybe doesn't is a mystery to me!

All thoughts greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Jules

 

Jules,

You've done a lot of repair work yourself since buying the XKR so scheduled maintenance should be well within your capabilities and facilities...................unless you particularly want a dealer stamp in the book or there's some major failure / tale of woe?

Graham

 

Guess I was thinking of the formal stamp in the book. The economy being what it is these days, who knows if in the foreseeable future, I might need to (heavens forbid).... sell..!!!

 

I've always done my own servicing:

1. to know it's done properly
2. gives the opportunity for thorough inspection

The important thing is to document what has been done. I record the Scheduled Service sheets in an MSExcel Workbook and annotate dates and comments for each action. Here is an example of the latest service on my current XK8:



Tyres and Brakes are summarised on a second spreadsheet:



The completed sheets are printed off and attached to the Service Portfolio Booklet. Accompanying this is a file of receipts for parts and materials.

Whenever I've sold a vehicle, the buyer has never failed to be impressed with the documentation which exceeds the usual rubber dealer stamp as a detailed service history.

Graham

 

Thanks Graham. Think I'd be impressed too and happy the proper checks had been carried out.

I'd have to go to a garage tho when it came to anything too techy - ie drive belts etc, but I guess that's once every x years.

Jules

ps: where can I get my hands on the full servicing schedule for the XKR?

 

Jules,

Here's the official Jaguar schedule:



As you can see, it only goes to 60k miles. After this, the sequence is repeated.

Here's an extended version to 150k I did for a US member a few months ago:

Jaguar XK8 & XKR 4.2 Maintenance Schedules.pdf

Nothing too complicated in the schedules but major bills from a dealer or even an independent.

Note that transmission fluid doesn't get a mention in the Jaguar listing. It's controversial but many on the forum have changed fluid and filter.

Graham

 

I always used Borringdon Motor Group in Plymouth, their rates were very good and they use former jaguar mechanics.

 

S&P Kingsteignton Jag specialists labour £60 / hour

 

Suggest you contact Simon and Pete at S&P in Newton Abbot.

Also known as The Jaguar Specialist (which they are).

They have an ad in Jaguar World, which happens to feature one of my cars, Red XJR 308.

I have been using them for 14 years.

 

Interesting thread as I live in North Somerset and my nearest main dealer (Taunton) has the lowest labour rates of any main dealer in the UK. For example 5yrs ago when I was going to have my new front grill fitted (involving removal of the front bumper) I contacted a couple of Jag specialist along with some standard workshops. All quoted me 2hrs to remove the bumpers and cut off the overriders.

Taunton Jag advised me that they had a set price for removal and refitting bumper of 30 minutes and did the rest of the work FOC. So they did the work and charged me a mere £43 inc VAT

4 miles from me is Swallows

www.swallowsjaguar.com

Their work is impressive and reasonably priced